DR. PARAMJIT TEWARI Vs. PANJAB UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) To decide the controversy in the present case, it would be necessary to give detailed factual matrix.

(2.) On 8th April, 1981, the petitioner was selected as a temporary Lecturer, after being interviewed by a properly constituted selection committee, in the Department of Zoology of the Panjab University, Chandigarh. The said selection was approved by the Syndicate of the University on 18th April, 1981. In pursuance of the letter of appointment dated 27th April, 1981, the petitioner had joined her duties on 28th April, 1981. In the approval granted by the Syndicate on 18th April, 1981, it was mentioned that the petitioner was to report for duty on 1st July, 1981. However, in the later meeting of the Syndicate held on 16th May, 1981, the approval regarding the appointment of the petitioner was given w.ei. 28th April, 1981 (i.e. the date she had given) instead of 1st July, 1981. The petitioner continued to work as such and as she was also given increment in her pay w.ei. 1st April, 1982. On 25th June, 1982, the Chairman of the Department of Zoology wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor, which reads as under :-

(3.) The senate of the respondent-University which is the appointing authority of a lecturer vide Resolution dated 19th December, 1982, approved the extension of appointment of the petitioner for one year or till the selection was made against the two vacant posts of lecturers lying in the Department. The next increment had been given to the petitioner w.ei. 1st April, 1983. The Chairman of the Department of Zoology was informed by the Vice Chancellor vide his letter dated 14th July, 1983 that the term of the petitioner's appointment had been extended for a period of three months more w.e.f. 1st June, 1983. It may be observed here that though there was no specific order for continuance in service for the period from 28th April, 1983 to 31st May, 1983, yet she was given pay for this period as she had actually worked during the said period. Still further, vide letter of the Vice Chancellor dated 20th September, 1983, the Chairman of the Department of Zoology was informed that the period of petitioner's appointment has further been extended for three months upto 20th November, 1983. However, when the matter was placed before the syndicate on October 22, 1983 regarding the extension of petitioner's appointment, it was resolved as under :-